• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.557-562
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• 2015

In order to analyze and compare the desulfurization characteristics of five different kinds of domestic limestons, a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) was used in this study. Calcium carbonate contents of the domestic limestone varied from 91 to 96 wt%. Experimental temperature and sulfur dioxide concentration of $850^{\circ}C$ and 2,750 ppm, respectively were selected to simulate commercial operation conditions. In this study, the calcination and desulfurization reaction of limestones were simultaneously occurred and investigated to simulate in-situ desulfurization reaction in commercial circulating fluidized bed combustors. In addition, desulfurization reactivities of limes having the average particle sizes of 37.5, 90.5, 159, 356 and $750{\mu}m$ were investigated. Desulfurization reactivities via simultaneous calcination and desulfurization reactions were 5-20% lower than those of using general desulfurization reactions.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2017

Objectives: Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) constitute the first line of defense against invading microbial pathogens. Early events in inflammation involve the recruitment of neutrophils to the site of injury or damage where changes in intracellular calcium can cause the activation of pro-inflammatory mediators from neutrophils including superoxide generation, degranulation and release of myeloperoxidase (MPO), productions of interleukin (IL)-8 and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), and adhesion to the vascular endothelium. To address the anti-inflammatory role of flavonoids, in the present study, we investigated the effects of the flavonoids quercetin and vitexin on the stimulus-induced nitric oxide (NO), $TNF-{\alpha}$, and MPO productions in human neutrophils. Methods: Human peripheral blood neutrophils were isolated, and their viabilities were determined by using the Trypan Blue exclusion test. The polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) preparations contained more than 98% neutrophils as determined by morphological examination with Giemsa staining. The viabilities of cultured neutrophils with various concentrations of quercetin and vitexin ($1-100{\mu}M$) were studied using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Neutrophils were cultured in complete Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) medium, pre-incubated with or without quercetin and vitexin ($25{\mu}M$) for 45 min, and stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) ($10^{-7}M$). NO production was carried out through nitrite determination by using the Griess method. Also, the $TNF-{\alpha}$ and the MPO productions were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits and MPO assay kits. Results: Neutrophil viability was not affected up to a concentration of $100{\mu}M$ of quercetin or vitexin. Both quercetin and vitexin significantly inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}$, NO, and MPO productions in human neutrophils (P < 0.001). Conclusion:The present study showed that both quercetin and vitexin had significant anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, treatment with either quercetin or vitexin may be considered as a therapeutic strategy for treating patients with neutrophil-mediated inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.333-337
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to develop a process technology to produce high hardness concentrated seawater removing chloride ions but containing useful minerals such as magnesium and calcium in the seawater desalination process. In order to make high hardness concentrated seawater, evaporation system is mostly used recently. Because evaporation system requires a large amount of energy consumption, in this study, it was aimed to produce high hardness concentrated seawater using membrane filtration requiring less energy. Nano filtration membranes were used for the experiments, and different types of high hardness concentrated seawater was produced depending on the membranes' specification, the number of times being concentrated, and pressure. As a result, at between 15bar and 20 bar in pressure, in between the second and the third times of concentration, the experiment result showed the best economic efficiency. By the experiment, production of high hardness concentrated seawater seemed to have a good economic feasibility.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.549-554
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• 2011

FK506 is a widespread immunosuppressive drug after liver transplantion in patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Dexamethasone is frequently used as co-treatment in cytotoxic cancer therapy, e.g. to prevent nausea, to protect normal tissue or for other reasons. Our aim was to investigate antitumor effects of FK506 in Hep3B cells, one of differentiated human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and inhibitory effects of dexamethsone on FK506- induced antitumor effects. Cell injury was evaluated by biochemical assays as cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Hep3B cells. Intracellular calcium concentration ([$Ca^{2+}$]i) and the level of activation of the c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and the Bax protein in cultured Hep3B cells was measured. Exposure of 0.1 ${\mu}M$ FK506 to Hep3B cells led to cell death accompanied by a decrease in cell viability and an increase in LDH, ROS and [$Ca^{2+}$]i. FK506 induced an increase in activity of Bax and JNK protein but inhibited the activity of Bcl-2 protein. Treatment of dexamethsone, per se, had no effects on cell viability, LDH and ROS. However, co-treatment of FK506 and dexamethasone diminished the FK506-induced LDH release, ROS generation and JNK activation. These results demonstrate that FK506 has antitumor effect in Hep3B cells but the combination of FK506 and dexamethasone antagonizes the FK506-induced antitumor effects.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.75-90
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• 2003

Ettringite and thaumasite were observed in some concrete. The morphology and occurrence of these minerals were closely examined by performing SEM/EDAX analyses. We also experimentally induced the concrete deterioration using $Na_2SO_4$ solution with application of various environmental conditions. The stability of these minerals and deterioration characteristics under applied experimental conditions were determined. Abundant ettringite formed by“through solution reaction”occurred in many open spaces, and some microscopic ettringite formed by "tophochemical replacement" of calcium aluminate also occurred in cement paste. Severe cracking of cement paste causing premature deterioration was often associated with ettringite location. Under specific condition, ettringite was transformed to thaumasite, tricthloroaluminate, or decomposed. Thaumasite occurred with association of ettrinsite in concrete containing carbonate aggregate being subject to dedolomitization or in some concrete being subject to carbonation. Thaumasite appears to be formed under the similar condition to the general ettringite forming condition, but it formed solid solution with ettringite by substituting pre-existing ettringite. Ettringite can also be transformed to trichloroaluminate in the presence of abundant chlorides, but trichloroaluminate changed back to ettringite in late sulfate attack. It is considered that the substitution reaction direction solely depend on the concentration of chloride and sulfate ion.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.377-383
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• 1999

The anti-asthmatic activities of the extract of Lonicera japonica (BuOH fraction) and its mode of action were investigated using several in vitro and in vivo models. Lonicera japonica was extracted with 30% ethanol (v/v) and successively partitioned into BuOH. The BuOH fraction reduced antigen-induced contraction of isolated trachea from sensitized guinea pigs in a concentration-dependent manner. The BuOH fraction also inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by antigen or calcium ionophore A23187 ($IC_{50}=0.26$ and 0.32mg/ml, respectively). Eosinophil infiltration into bronchoalveolar lavage fluids induced by aeroallergen challenge in passively sensitized guinea pigs was inhibited by the BuOH fraction at a dose of 800mg/kg (51.7%). In addition, the BuOH fraction inhibited leukotriene $B_4$ prodution in rat basophilic leukemia cells ($IC_{50}=0.42\;mg/ml$) as well as phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) isolated from rat brain ($IC_{50}=0.015\;mg/ml$). All results from this study strongly suggest that the BuOH fraction of Lonicera japonica may be useful in the treatment of asthma and its mode of action may be related with inhibition of both 5-lipoxygenase and PDE4 enzyme.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2006

The uptake of cadmium in animals is mainly accumulated in and affected to the liver and kidney by binding with red blood cells and serum albumin. The process accounts for more than 50% of the total accumulated cadmium in the body. The kidneys may be damaged without regarding the pathway uptake of cadmium. In a group of rats on supplements of 1% chlorella and 40 ppm cadmium, the concentration of cadmium in urine greatly decreased by 66% compared to control group, and the total synthesis of metallothionein decreased by 48.6% compared to control group. However, no previous study has assessed the protective effect on kidney damage induced by cadmium uptake through supplementation with chlorella. This study analyzed the biochemical marker for kidney damage in the rats after uptake of 40 ppm $CdCl_2$ and supplementation of the diet of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with 1%, 5%, and 10% chlorella during 4 weeks. In a group of SD rats on supplementation with 1% chlorella and uptake of 40 ppm $CdCl_2,\;\beta_2$ microglobulin in the urine was found to be $3.1\pm0.6\;{\mu}g/L$, a decrease of 58% compared to a group of Sp rats on uptake of $CdCl_2$ only, in which the $\beta_2$ microglobulin was found to be $4.9\pm0.7\;{\mu}g/L$. According to the results of histopathological observation, the accumulation of mild and localized chronic inflammatory cells in kidney tissues was observed in 50% of the SD rats on uptake of cadmium only. In contrast, only 30% of the SD rats on supplementation with 1% chlorella and uptake of 40ppm $CdCl_2$, representing a histopathological abnormality, and there were no histopathological abnormalities at all in groups of SD rats on supplementation with 5% or 10% chlorella and uptake of 40 ppm $CdCl_2$. In conclusion, protein, calcium, and iron, which account for more than 50% of the total dried chlorella composition, may contribute to the reduction nephrotoxicity by stimulating both inhibited absorption of cadium and increased excretion of accumulated cadmium in kidneys.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2014

Regenerated Antheraea pernyi silk sponge was prepared using calcium nitrate 4 hydrate melt and examined the conformational changes treated with aqueous ethanol solution. The conformation of silk sponges was changed from random coil structure to ${\beta}$-sheet and ${\alpha}$-helix conformation with low ethanol concentration (50 ~ 70%). On the other hand, that of silk sponges with 80% ethanol treatment showed ${\beta}$-sheet ($700cm^{-1}$), ${\alpha}$-helix ($625cm^{-1}$), and random coil ($660cm^{-1}$) specific peaks. Wound healing effect in vitro was observed by cytoslective wound healing kit. Therefore, regenerated Antheraea pernyi silk sponges might be used as promising wound dressing materials.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1095-1104
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• 2009

The objective of this research was to evaluate the feasibility of using oyster-shell and eggshell wastes for the stabilization of arsenic-contaminated soil. Artificial As(V) contaminated soil was mixed with 0~5% oyster-shell and eggshell wastes and each sample was incubated for 30 days in a controlled environment. The efficiency of each treatment was evaluated using various single extractants (1 N HCl, 0.1 N NaOH and 0.5 N $H_2SO_4$). The concentration of As(V) was reduced by 10% upon a 5% oyster-shell or eggshell waste treatments based on the Korea Standard Test method (1 N HCl extraction). Analogous trends were observed in the 0.1 N NaOH or 0.5 N $H_2SO_4$ extractions. In addition, the oyster-shell and eggshell waste treatments increased the pH of each soil from 6.54 (Control) to 7.62~7.94. The exchangeable Ca in each soil also sharply increased from 6.87 cmol(+)/kg (Control) to 12.77~20.18 cmol(+)/kg. Further research is needed to increase the effectiveness of the oyster-shell and eggshell waste for the stabilization of As(V) in the contaminated soil.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 2012

Interferon induced transmembrane protein-1 (Ifitm-1) has been reported to have an important role in primordial germ cell formation, and it has expressed in female reproductive organ. In the present study, Ifitm-1 gene expression was identified in testes and all part of epididymis using western immunoblot and immunohistochemistry. Interestingly, Ifitm-1 expression was observed on the head of spermatozoa. To investigate the role of Ifitm-1 gene expression in behavior of spermatozoa after acrosome reaction, fresh sperm was incubated with calcium ionophore to induce acrosome reaction, whereas the expression of Ifitm-1 was not altered after the acrosome reaction. Then to identify the effect of Ifitm-1 in sperm motility and other seminal parameters, different concentration of Ifitm-1 antibody was incubated with spermatozoa, and seminal parameters were assessed using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). Interestingly, motility, progressive, and VAP were increased in the sperm with Ifitm-1 antibody treated compared to rabbit serum, however other parameters such as straightness were not changed. In order to identify the functional significance of Ifitm-1 in fertilization, capacitated spermatozoa were pre-incubated with anti-Ifitm-1 antibody and subsequently examined the ability to adhere to mouse oocytes. However, any defection or alteration in sperm-egg fusion was not found, Ifitm-1 antibody treated or non-treated spermatozoa showed a normal penetration. Although the precise role of Ifitm-1 in sperm motility and following fertilization need to be elucidated, this study suggests that the activation of Ifitm-1 on the sperm may enhance the motility of spermatozoa in mice.